Prince George's May Make Recycling Mandatory

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) -- Prince George's County officials may institute mandatory recycling if the county doesn't hit self-imposed goals to improve recycling rates.

The Washington Examiner reports a plan going before the County Council on Tuesday would set goals for a countywide recycling rate of 45 percent by 2015, 55 percent by 2018 and 60 percent by 2020.

The proposal would require owners of apartments, condominiums and commercial buildings to provide recycling options for tenants by 2014.

The county's recycling rate is currently 40 percent. That's ahead of Maryland's legal minimum of 20 percent but behind neighboring Montgomery County's 47 percent.

Montgomery County makes recycling mandatory. Residents who don't separate recyclable items from their trash can be cited for violations. The county is aiming for a recycling rate of 70 percent by 2020.

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